Perpetual calendar ruler



1936. F. v. ToPPlN 2,029,843

PERPETUAL CALENDAR RULER Filed April 6, 1935 'Fig-.5-

INVENTOR Fuuclsv. ToPPm ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 4, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a perpetual calendar ruler.

The invention has for an object the construction of a ruler with a mechanism to perpetually give the month, day of the week, and date.

More particularly, the invention contemplates forming the material of the ruler with a cutout area in which the perpetual calendar mechanism is set.

A further object of the invention resides in the particular construction of the calendar mechanism for its efiicient operation and utility.

The invention contemplates constructing the perpetual -calendar in the formV of a frame equipped with a cover and supporting several 'rollers mounted across its ends, and several endless belts mounted between the rollers and printed or inscribed with perpetual calendar data and portions thereof being viewable through window openings in said cover.

More particularly, it is proposed to construct the endless belts of elastic so that they firmly engage the rollers and are caused to vmove if one of the rollers supporting belt is turned.

Another object ofthe invention is the provision of knobs associated with certain of the rollers and extending to exterior by which the calendar may be adjusted.

Another one of the objects of this invention is the provision of a carriage supporting the rollers at one end of the frame and arranged to be adjusted to various positions so that the tension of the elastic belts may be adjusted as desired.

Still further the invention proposes the construction of a device as described which is simple and Adurable and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended `claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:--

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a perpetual calendar ruler constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is an edge elevational view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the perpetual calendar portion of the device with the cover thereof removed.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the cover per se. The perpetual calendar ruler, according to this invention, comprises material Ill in the form of a ruler and having a cut-out area II in which a perpetual calendar is set. one edge sloping and formed into the ruled edge thereof and imprinted with a scale I2. The perpetual calendar includes a frame I3 having tongues I4 projecting from the ends thereof and engaging in receiving grooves I5 formed in the sides of the openings II so that the calendar is supported in position on the ruler.

The perpetual calendar is of smaller width than the size of the opening II so' that controlling knobs II for operating the perpetual calendar, hereinafter further described, may be within the compass of therrear edge of the ruler. A

Small blocks I6 are engaged into the free ends 'of the grooves I5 and are secured in fixed positions by screws IB and serve to hold the perpetual calendar xed upon the ruler. It may be removed by first removing the screws and then removing the blocks. The frame I3 is covered by a casing I9. This casing has a top wall I9HL adapted to extend` across the top of the frame, a bottom wall I9b adapted to extend across the bottom of the frame, and an end wall I9c adapted to extend across the outer side of the frame. This cover is normally held in position with screws engaging through openings in the corners thereof `and into threaded openings formed in lugs 2I of the frame.

Three rollers 22, 23 and 24 are rotatively mounted across one end of the frame I3. Another three rollers 25, 26 and 21 are rotatively mounted across the other end of the frame. Three endless belts 28, 29 and 30 are mounted upon the rollers as shown in Fig. 3. More particularly, the endless belt 28 is mounted upon the rollers 22 and 25 and idly extends over the top and bottoms of the rollers 26 and 2l. 'Ihis belt is imprinted or inscribed with the months of the year which may be selectively viewed through a window opening 3l in the casing. The endless belt 29 is mounted between the rollers 23 and 26 andidly extends over the rollers 22 and 23. This btlt 29 is inscribed with the days of the week which may be selectively viewed through a window'opening 3|' in the casing I9.

The third belt 30 is mounted between the rollers 24 and 21 and idly extends over the rollers 22 and 23. It is inscribed with numerals indieating the days of the month, which are selectively viewable through window openings 32.

A portion of each roller 22, 23 and 24 is knurled v The ruler I0 has to frictionally engage the endless belts 28, 29 and 30 respectively.

The rollers 22, 23 and 24 extend through the front side of the frame I3 and through openings 33 in the end wall I9c of the cover and at their outer ends are equipped with the knobs I1. The rollers 25, 26 and 21 are mounted upon a pair of strips 35 having tongues 36 engaging in grooves 31 formed upon the inner sides of the center and rear walls of the frame I3. The holding strips 35 consequently are slidable within the frame. A clip 38 is mounted on each strip 35 and has a free end 38 extending through an opening 39 in the holding strip and engageable with notches 31' in the base of the grooves 31 for the purposes of maintaining the holding strips in fixed positions. The bottom wall I9b of thecover I9 is formed with longitudinal slots 40 disposed immediately below the clips 38 as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The clips 38 are shaped so as to have open areas 4I into which the ends of tools, such as screw drivers, may be engaged.V I

This arrangement permits a pair of screw drivers toY be engaged through the slots 40 into the openings 4I to lift the ends 38 of clips free from the notches 31 and the strips 35 may then be moved forwards'or rearwards to adjust the tension of the endless belts 28, 29 and 30. Preferably, these endless belts should be constructed of elastic tapes or similar material. The strips 35 may be latched into newV positions merely by the withdrawal of the screw drivers so as to allow the ends 38 of the clips to re-engage the slots in the bases of the grooves 31.

" The operation of the device is as follows:-The knob I1 on the roller 22 may be turned for adjusting the month indication of the perpetual calendar. The knob I1 upon the roller 23 may 'be turned for adjusting theday of the week indication vof the calendar, while the knob I1 on the roller 24 may be turned for adjusting the day of the month. Preferably, the knobs I1 are of such size that the rims thereof project slightly above the top face of the ruler, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, so that they may be conveniently turned while the ruler lies iat upon a desk. If desired, the knobs may be turned by lifting the ruler so that they may be reached from the rear.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modiiications comying within the scope ofV the invention as deiined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim asrnew, anddesire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:-

1. A perpetual calendar ruler, comprising a ruler, a frame removably mounted thereon, a cover engaging said frame and formed with several window openings, several rollers mounted across each of the ends oi said frame, several endless belts mounted between said rollers and printed or inscribed with perpetual calendar data and having portionsthereof selectively viewable through said window openings, and means for moving said endless belts.

2. A perpetual calendar ruler, comprising a ruler, a frame removably mounted thereon, a

endless belts mounted between said rollers and printed or inscribed with perpetual calendar data and having portions thereof selectively viewable through said window openings, and means for moving said endless belts, said frame and cover engaging into an opening extended in from the rear edge of the ruler and of a thickness corresponding with the thickness of the ruler.

3. A perpetual calendar ruler, comprising a ruler, a frame removably mounted thereon, a cover engaging said frame and formed with several window openings, several rollers mounted across each of the ends of said frame, several endless belts mounted between said rollers and printed or inscribed with perpetual calendar data and having portions thereof selectively viewable through said window. openings, and means for moving said endless belts, said frame having tongues on theV ends thereof engaging in receiving grooves in the material of the ruler by which the perpetual calendar is mounted in position.

4. A perpetual calendar ruler, comprising a ruler, a frame removably mounted thereon, a cover engaging said frame and formed with several window openings, several rollers mounted across each of the ends of said frame, several endless belts mounted between said rollers and printed or inscribed with perpetual calendar data and having portions thereof selectively viewable through said window openings, and means for moving said endless belts, said frame having tongues on the ends thereof engaging in receiving grooves in the material of the ruler by which the perpetual calendar is mounted in position, and removable blocks mounted upon the ruler for preventing the perpetual calendar from being removed.

v5. A'perpetual calendar ruler, comprising a ruler, a frame removably mounted thereon, a cover engaging said frame and formed with several window openings, several rollers mounted across each of the ends of said frame, several endless belts mounted between said rollers and printed or inscribed with perpetual calendar data and having portions thereof selectively viewable through said window openings, and means for moving said endless belts, said endless belts being `present in the numerical number of three, one 'belt containing the months of the year, the second belt containing the days of the week, and the third belt containing the number of the days in the month.

6. A perpetual calendar ruler, comprising a ruler, a frame removably mounted thereon, a

cover engaging said frame and formed with sev- `eral window openings, several pairs of rollers mounted across each of the ends of said frame,

fone of each pair of rollers being partially knurled,

the numerical number of three, one belt containing the months of the year, the second belt containing the days of the week, and the third belt containing the number o1' the days in the month, comprising knobs connected with certain of said rollers.

'1. In a perpetual calendar ruler, a frame having parallel sides, a casing encasing said frame and formed with several window openings, a group of rollers at one end of the frame and rotatively Amounted thereon and having one of their ends extending through the frame and through the casing to the exterior and equipped with knobs, a second group of rollers located on the other end of the frame and rotative on strips slidably mounted on the inner faces of parallel sides of said frame, several endless belts of elastic material mounted between said rollers and inscribed with perpetual calendar data viewable through said window openings, and means for holding said strips adjusted in various positions and controlling the tension of said belts.

8. In a perpetual calendar ruler, a frame having parallel sides, a casing encasing said frame and formed with several window openings, a group of rollers at one end of the frame and ro'- tatively mounted thereon and having one of their ends extending through the frame and through the casing to the exterior and equipped with knobs, a second group of rollers located on the other end of the frame and rotative on strips slidably mounted on the inner faces of parallel sides of said frame, several endless belts of elastic material mounted between said rollers and inscribed with perpetual calendar data viewable through said window openings, and means for holding said strips adjusted in. various positions and controlling the tension of said belts, comprising clips mounted upon the strips and engageable with grooves in the frame.

9. In a perpetual calendar ruler, a frame having parallel sides, a casing encasing said frame and formed with several window openings, a group of rollers at one end of the frame and rotatively mounted thereon and having one of their ends extending through the frame and through the easing to the exterior and equipped with knobs, a second group of rollers located on the other end of the frame and rotative on strips slidably mounted on the inner faces of parallel sides of said frame, several endless belts of elastic material mounted between said rollers and inscribed with perpetual calendar data viewable through said window openings, and means for holding said stripsadjusted in various positions and controlling the tension of said belts, comprising clips mounted upon the strips and engageable with grooves in the frame, said clips being shaped to have openings in which tools may be engaged, and said cover having longitudinal slots through which said tools may be engaged to reach the clips by which the holding strips may be adjusted.

FRANCIS V. TOPPIN. 

